Think “Julie London, but not dead.”
May I suggest:
Patty Griffin
Joan Osborne
Christina Perri
Missy Higgins
Adele
Also Eilen Jewell:
Plus, she can rock, too:
Patti Austin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epPBiikqTcs&feature=related
Diana Kraull
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it1NaXrIN9I
*Not *dead? That leaves out all the best ones . . .
Holly Cole maybe.
Madeleine Peyroux
The best young jazz singer on earth Melody Gardot.
Your Heart Is As Black As Night
I saw her in concert with Diana Krall and Madeleine Peyroux and she completely blew them off stage.
Yes, but dead singers rarely tour.
A little further afield, I might suggest Neko Case. Torchy alt-country. Her recent albums are a little more singer-songwritery and poppy, but her album Blacklisted is twangy and torchy throughout.
If you’re not familiar with Eva Cassidy I recommend “Live At Blues Alley”.
Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine
I second Patty Griffin!
…and for an exceptionally cool torchy new singer, how about some Chrissi Poland?
Look up some video of New Orleans singer Meschiya Lake. You’ll thank me.
Not young (currently about 75), but years of discography to pick from: Carol Sloane. One of my favorites.
But thanks for the thread, I’m definitely checking out some of these.
Roddy